I could read the documentation, try a few things and maybe figure it out, but I think you could do the same thing. So read the documentation, try a few things and see if you get it or not. Personally I don't even know what a "packed decimal file" is. But pack() is used to convert one thing into another thing so that is the place to start looking. Or ask on www.perlmonks.com and maybe someone there will already know how to do what you are asking. -------------------------------------------------